Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Books, Redux: Some of the Perils and Joys of Indie Publishing

Many have remarked that as history has continued,
the already hectic pace of modern life was quickened as well. Here in
Author-Land we've encountered a phenomenon that's arisen during the digital
age: the frequent reversion of previously published works.

What does that mean, you ask?

When an author "sells" a book to a
publisher, s/he is actually licensing one of the bundle of
rights that makes up copyright. That right to distribute a written work is
finite--that is, it's limited by time. The traditional publishers would
generally demand, and get, a term that was functionally infinite. For example,
I will never again get the rights back to any of the five works I licensed to
Harlequin; their contract specifies that rights are eligible for reversion
consideration 5 or 6 years after last use. In other words--all
Harlequin needs to do if they want to hang onto one of my works is to reissue
it. Which they will do as long as the book is selling, a not unreasonable
position. After all, we both want to make money, right?

But ebook publishers have the view that a year or
so after publication, few books will sell and therefore, rights revert, meaning
that I, the author, get the rights back and I can self- or indie-publish.

Rumors had followed the chieftains of Clan Kilborn
for centuries. Said to be descended from the Viking Berserkers, they were
ferocious in battle, known for tearing off the heads of their enemies and
drinking their blood.

But English noblewoman Lydia Swann Williston would
marry Kieran, Laird Kilborn, to bring peace to the Kilborn lands after the
horror of Culloden and the

brutal pacification. A widow, she also brought
needed wealth to Clan Kilborn. For her part,
eighteen-year-old Lydia wanted children. With her husband killed at
Culloden, she would make a new life in the Highlands.

The old chieftain of Clan Kilborn also died in
battle, and she hoped that the new young Laird would lack his ancestors'
ferocity.

She was wrong.

*****

It's not always fun to be in total control of one's publishing life. It's often
felt burdensome and expensive.

Re-editing must occur, along with formatting, which includes inserting internal navigation. New covers must be created or purchased--a minimum $100 charge. And then, there's the promo conundrum. Few authors have a background in marketing or promotions, which would have been really helpful. I'm always experimenting with different approaches to help readers find my books.

Yes, it's frustrating and time-consuming, but overall, I'd rather make my own mistakes.

No comments:

Post a Comment

About Me

Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello has written nineteen books in several genres, including nonfiction, memoir, romance, erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and articles on writing. She has also contributed to several bestselling boxed sets. Learn more about her books at her site, suzdemello.com.